1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



565 



approved as it was by the Ohio State Board of 

 Agriculture. 



This is the first National Exhibition of Cattle! 

 ever held in America ; and I do but express the 

 common sentiment of this assemblage, when Isayj 

 that it has more than realized the anticipation of' 

 all concerned. It has been eminently successful,! 

 and alike honorable to the citizens of Springfield,! 

 to the State of Ohio, and to this great Republic, j 



There liave been about two hundred entries at 

 this show. Among them we have seen such sam- 

 ples of the Durhams, the Ilerefords, the Devons, 

 the Ayrshires, the Jerseys, and grade animals, as 

 it has seldom or never been the happiness of man 

 to behold in one show ; and larger premiums have 

 been offered for the encouragement of that depart- 

 ment of American husbandry than ever before ex- 

 cited competition, 



Among so many specimens of rare excellence, 

 no wonder that the judges hate found it difficult 

 to decide upon their respective merits. Our only 

 regret is that premiums cannot be awarded to 

 each competitor. But there is one honor which 

 seems sufficient to satisfy the aml>ition of any one, 

 the honor of adding to the interest of this exhi- 

 bition, and of thus promoting a pursuit second to 

 no other in the country. 



The report of those proceedings will occupy an 

 important place in the transactions of this Society, 

 and will go down to posterity honorably associa- 

 ted with the history of this place, and of Ameri- 

 can agriculture. 



And here permit me to tender our most cordial 

 thanks to the donors whose liberal contributions 

 have supplied the funds for this exhibition, to its 

 Board of Officers and Managers, to whose skill in 

 designing, and whose energy in execution, we are 

 so much indebted for the order, convenience and 

 taste, which have characterized these proceedings, 

 to the judges, on whom has devolved the onerousj 

 duty of awarding premiums ; to the contributors,, 

 who so nobly have endured the risk and expense 

 of placing their valuable animals on exhibition.! 

 Especially do we present our heartfelt acknowl- 

 edgments to our distinguished guests who have 

 honored us by their presence, and who, we trust, 

 will instruct and encouiag» us bv their speeches ; 

 to the good citizens of Springfield u^.a vicinity, 

 Avhose large hospitality we have enjoyed ; andlasi, 

 but first in our affections, to the ladies, whose 

 presence adds so much to the interest and beauty 

 of this banquet, and whose approving smiles en-| 

 coiii'age us in all the laudable pursuits of life. ! 



Friends and Fellow-citizens: — In conclusion,! 



{)ermit mi; to extend to you the right hand of fel- 

 owship, and to invoke your aid in favor of the' 

 cause we seek to promote. While the nations of 

 the Old World seek for glory in war and the ac-i 

 quisitions of the sword, let us cultivate the arts 

 of peace, and let us remember that the history of 

 a prosperous people is inscribed, not on the star' 

 spangled banner of military fame, or of political 

 preferment and power, but it is seen in the peace- 

 ful triumphs of the plow, in fields of waving grass 

 and grain, in thriving llocks and herds, in highly 

 cultivated farms and gardens, in the refined arts 

 of rural life and cultivated taste, and in the grate- 

 ful incense which rises from the altars of an in- 

 dustrious, intelligent and virtuous yeomanry. 



Mr. Wilder's remarks were received with inter- 

 ruptions of applause, and demonstrations of high 

 approbation rent the welkin as ho sat down. 



The scene was for a few moments enlivened 

 with some music, when the President read the 

 regular toasts : 



1st Regular Toast — The State of Ohio : it was 

 her mission to lead in tlie march of civilization 

 and improvement ; well has she fulfilled the high 

 trust — long may she reap the rich harvest of her 

 planting. 



Gov.Medill l)eing absent, the Hon. L. D. Camp- 

 bell, .of Butler county, was called for to respond. 



He said he regretted that the Chief Executive 

 of the State was not present to reply to the toast. 

 He regretted that one more competent liad not 

 been called upon. " I am not prepared," said 

 he, " to discuss the great matter of the age — 

 agriculture — and- in relation to the different 

 breeds of cattle, I am, emphatically, a ' Know- 

 Nothing.' " He then spoke of the importance of 

 sustaining, by the aid of General Government, the 

 gi'eat cause of Agriculture. Millions were annu- 

 ally spent by Government, but nothing done to ad- 

 vance agriculture ; it was because the people had 

 not spoken. " Some raised constitutional objec- 

 tions, but," said he, " it could not be possible 

 that our forefathers, in framing the constitution, 

 intended to deprive usof advancing in agriculture. 

 Congress appropriates for coast surveys, and a 

 thousand other things, but what do they do for 

 agriculture ? They purchase a few seeds, and 

 after distribution we find one paper of cabbage 

 seeds to every 5,000 fjxrmers. But this very fact 

 proves there is power in Congress to promote ag- 

 ricultural interests. The people," he urged, 

 "should speak at the ballot box — agriculture 

 should be made a political test." 



Mr. Campbell's remarks were received with 

 considerable applause. 



2d Toast— The city of Springfield : Springfield 

 in Massachusetts, and Springfield in Ohio, re- 

 renowned in the history of American agriculture — 

 the mother giving birth to the first National Show 

 of Horses; the daughter for giving birth to twins — 

 the first National Cattle Show, and the first Na- 

 tional Exhibition of Babies. 



Responded to by Mr. Mason, of Springfield, 

 who, after a few remarks, gave — 



" Our Country : Whatever may belong to im- 

 ported caciiG, it ;«. f,^ +2ie native born American 

 citizens it must depend on lor ua p^^™-j,.»v;t.v." 



3d Toast — The Ohio Board of Agriculture : 

 The uniform friend of agriculture and rural econ- 

 omy. The annals of our country attest the value 

 of its labors — may it never lack the sunshine of 

 public patronage, or an abundant harvest of well- 

 earned renown. 



General Worthington, in behalf of the Ohio 

 Board of Agriculture, nsponded in a brief and 

 happy speed), and welcomed the guests and visi- 

 tors from abroad. 



•1th Toast :— The ^lissiSsippi Vallov— The great 

 granary of Uncle Sara's Farm — Like the store- 

 houses of Egypt, let years of plenty fill it to over- 

 flowing, and may it never lack a Josqih to wisely 

 dispense its abundance. 



The President said lie would call upon our 

 Brother Joseph, tlio Governor of Indiana, to 

 respond to tliis sentiment. 



Gov. Wright said that probably it would have 



